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Food Systems Director
Job Location:
Job Location:
Maplewood, WA - USA
Yearly Salary:
USD 95000 - 105000
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
29 September 2026 (7 days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
27 December 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
POSITION SUMMARY
Open Cupboard is one of the largest food rescue and food access organizations in the Twin Cities operating our innovative Todays Harvest free fresh market model across two locations and distributing more than seven million pounds of food a year. The Director of Food Systems is a new senior leadership role responsible for growing and strengthening the systems that get food into Open Cupboard and move it efficiently once its here.
Reporting to the Executive Director the Director of Food Systems will lead our food rescue food sourcing and inventory/operations work including our regional hub-and-spoke distribution network. This person will oversee the growth of donor and food-source relationships the performance of our food rescue fleet and inventory operations and the internal flow of food to reduce waste. This role will lead execution of strategic goals of expanding food rescue collections deepening donor partnerships and scaling our hub-and-spoke network.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Food Rescue & Sourcing
Lead strategy and execution to increase the total volume of food coming into Open Cupboard through food rescue food sourcing and donor development.
Deepen relationships with existing retail grocery distributor and wholesale donor partners to unlock additional available-but-uncollected pounds.
Identify cultivate and onboard new food rescue and sourcing partners including retailers distributors food service operators and institutional sources.
Grow and manage agricultural food rescue partnerships including relationships with farmers markets individual growers and value-added processing/compensation partnerships.
Steward all donor relationships through named relationship management regular impact reporting and consistent check-ins to retain and grow volume over time.
Mini-Hub / Hub-and-Spoke Program
Own and grow and scale Open Cupboards regional hub-and-spoke distribution network
Build and maintain the communications onboarding and logistics infrastructure that allows partner agencies to request receive and (over time) contribute food efficiently and reliably.
Identify and onboard new spoke/mini-hub agencies
Oversee order management and food distribution to spoke/mini-hub partners ensuring donated food reaches partner agencies before it spoils.
Guide the networks evolution toward a bidirectional mutually reinforcing exchange model in which high-capacity partners both receive and contribute food.
Inventory Operations & Internal Food Flow
Oversee inventory operations across Open Cupboard sites including intake sorting storage and cold-chain management of rescued and donated food.
Oversee the food rescue fleet including route planning driver coordination and a structured preventive maintenance program to ensure vehicle availability and routing efficiency.
Oversee systems for tracking incoming food to support accurate reporting.
Support decision-making on facility repairs and upgrades to ensure smooth operational flow
Staff & Program Management
Hire train supervise and develop food rescue drivers inventory staff and other food hub/operations staff.
Build team capacity to support growing collection volume an expanding donor base and a scaling hub-and-spoke network.
Set clear goals provide regular feedback and coaching and foster a culture of accountability safety and continuous improvement.
Partner with the Executive Director and other program directors to align food systems work with organization-wide strategy and capacity.
Alongside the Executive Director create and monitor program budget and create optimization plans for equipment and staffing expenses.
Grant Management Data & Reporting
Serve as the operational lead for grant-funded food rescue and hub-and-spoke initiatives ensuring work plans timelines and budgets stay on track.
Track and report on pounds rescued pounds distributed through the hub-and-spoke network and other program metrics using Open Cupboards data systems.
Monitor progress against objectives and make mid-course adjustments to collections staffing or partnerships as needed to hit targets.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
8 years of progressively responsible experience in food rescue food recovery food banking or a related food systems/supply chain field.
Strong working knowledge of food waste and food recovery systems including donor relationship management perishable food logistics and cold-chain handling.
Demonstrated experience managing programs and supervising staff including hiring coaching and performance management.
Strong relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to represent the organization to donors partner agencies and funders.
Comfort working with data to track performance identify trends and report outcomes to leadership and funders.
Valid drivers license and ability to travel regularly between Open Cupboard sites and partner locations across the East Metro.
Preferred
Experience managing state or federal grant-funded programs including work plans budgets and reporting requirements.
Familiarity with fleet management and preventive maintenance programs.
Experience working with or serving Environmental Justice communities.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Growth in total pounds of food rescued year over year through retail agricultural wholesale and food bank channels.
A growing well-run network of mini-hub/spoke partner agencies
Smooth fast internal food flow that minimizes spoilage and gets perishable food to Open Cupboards own programs quickly.
A capable well-supported food sourcing rescue and operations team.
Strong well-stewarded donor relationships that retain and grow volume over time.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
This is a full-time exempt position with an annual salary of $95000$105000 based on experience plus a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
Medical and dental insurance
401(k) retirement plan available after six months of employment with a company match of up to 3% of salary.
Paid time off and 8 paid holidays per year plus two floating holidays.
Long-term disability insurance life insurance and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Minnesota Paid Leave providing pay and job protection for qualifying family or medical needs.
TO APPLY
Please submit your application by 9/21. If you have any questions about the position please contact Jessica Francis Executive Director at .
Open Cupboard is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race color religion sex national origin age disability genetic information marital status sexual orientation gender identity or expression veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal state or local law.
We believe our work is strongest when our team reflects the communities we serve and we encourage people from all backgrounds including those historically underrepresented in the nonprofit and food access sectors to apply.
Compensation: $95000.00 - $105000.00 per year
Open Cupboard is an innovative leader in food rescue food access and community support in Minnesota. Through its four core programs Todays Harvest markets mobile food shelf drive-up service and home delivery Open Cupboard meets people where they are ensuring access to fresh healthy food without cost or barriers.
In shopping trips to Open Cupboard helped fill more than 5.5 million plates with free fresh food. By rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste and partnering with farmers retailers volunteers and donors Open Cupboard helps families stretch budgets stay healthy and avoid deeper crises with dignity. Learn more and get involved:
Required Experience:
Director
